Process for choline and vitamin stabilization

Abstract

Process for the stabilization of choline and stabilization of vitamins, in which choline is heated with a mixture of an aldehyde and a nitrogenous compound, preferably formaldehyde and urea, and vitamins are stabilized by addition thereof to said mixture of choline, aldehyde and nitrogenous compounds before the beginning of the stabilizing reaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for stabilizing choline by preparing a non-hygroscopic form thereof, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a reaction mixture containing about 32-77.1% by weight choline chloride, about 7.1-14.88% by weight formurea and about 7.8-11.8% by weight urea;   (b) adding from 0% to about 53% by weight of a vitamin supplement;   (c) heating the reaction mixture to about 45°-85° C.; and   (d) adding from 0% to about 1.24% by weight of 18.5% hydrochloric acid to said reaction mixture; whereby said reaction mixture forms a solidified reaction product.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1, wherein 1.24% by weight 18.5% hydrochloric acid is added to said reaction mixture while heating said reaction mixture to a temperature in the range of about 45° to 50° C. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1, wherein said reaction mixture is heated to a temperature in the range of about 75° to 85° C. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1, wherein said vitamin supplement is selected from the group consisting of vitamins A, C, B1, B6, B12 and K, and combinations thereof, and is added to said reaction mixture prior to heating, said vitamin supplement comprising 10% to about 53% by weight of the total mixture, whereby said vitamin supplement is stabilized in said solidified reaction product. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 2, wherein said vitamin supplement is selected from the group consisting of vitamins A, C, B1, B6, B12 and K, and combinations thereof, and is added to said reaction mixture prior to heating, said vitamin supplement comprising 10% to about 53% by weight of the total mixture, whereby said vitamin supplement is stabilized in said solidified reaction product. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 4, further including the steps of pulverizing said solidified reaction product to a powder, and mixing said powder with iron and potassium salts. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 5, further including the steps of pulverizing said solidified reaction product to a powder, and mixing said powder with irion and potassium salts.